When it comes to the bizarre – the 70s seemed to have a stranglehold on performing artists crying out for some kind – in fact any kind of help.

Take Englebert Humperdink.

Granted he had enduring talent which to this day has earned him milliions – but at what point did his manager decide that the moniker Englebert would prove an astute career move?

Or how about that One Hit Wonder – Randy Vanwarmer? Is there in fact a Mrs Vanwarmer or a whole household of Vanwarmers?

Even Johnny Cougar – who has since morphed into John Mellancamp felt the need to exude a point of difference at the time along with fellow animal kingdom soulmate Adam Ant I suggest.

Can we forgive the likes of Freddy Mercury or Sid Vicious for their  lapse of any significant homage to their birthnames?

Maxine Nightingale, Meatloaf even Christopher Cross (Criss Cross – what’s going on there?)

But are there any others you can readily bring to mind? Or is it all to ugly to even contemplate?

Ziggy Stardust . . . hmmmm

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What do you get when you combine cellos, violins, woodwinds, horns and classical overtones to a stirring rock agenda?

Modern Opera?

Well kinda. ELO – or for the puritans – The Electric Light Orchestra. Hugely contemporary with unabashed lashings of everything from baroque to renaissance – Jeff Lynne and his wandering band of mistrals defied predictions from almost every quarter of the music world and turned ELO into one of the great success stories of the 70’s.

Despite the sometimes turbulent road the band travelled – there can be no doubt – collectively we were the better for their journey.

From some of its earlier work to their first US Top Ten “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head” in 1975 – ELO provided countless musical anthems to the masses.

Evil Woman (who’s string hook was re-released by the Pussycat Dolls as part of their 2006 hit “Beep”), Livin’ Thing, Telephone Line, Rockaria and Sweet Talkin’ Woman all went multi-platinum while live – the band proved the biggest drawcard in the US by 1978 – averaging a massive 50,000 people at each of their shows.

And it didn’t stop there. With the onset of the disco era (and who doesn’t love disco), the ELO juggernaut continued unabated. In 1979 Lynne produced the album ‘Discovery’ (or had been cruelly suggested by some rock historians – Disco very), generating their biggest hit – “Don’t Bring Me Down”. In fact the album proved not only for its time but left a lasting legacy for bands such as Atomic Kitten and Lovefreekz – both of whom sampled the tracks Shine A Little Love and Last Train To London in 2003 and 2005 respectively.

Facts, figures and hyperbole aside – ELO – complete with its famous on-stage spaceship – fall into the comtempory music legend category. Turn to Stone, Mr Blue Sky, All Over The World, Xanadu plus so many, many more – ELO without doubt provided ‘A Strange (but hypnotic) Magic’ for millions.

Unfortunately it’s been a fairly dry period for fans who have longed for a Jeff Lynne-led musical oasis – the likes of which we’re unlikely to see again – yet drink from the well I say – the lifeblood of your youth lies deep within.

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Regarded as one of the most influential rock and roll bands of all-time KISS holds honors as one of America’s top gold record champions, recording 36 albums over 32 years selling over 75 million albums worldwide.

Performing at everything from the Super Bowl to the 2002 Winter Olympics , the KISS legacy continues to grow, generation after generation, transcending both age and cringeworthy crtics.

The unparalleled devotion and loyalty of the KISS is an incredible testament to the band’s unbreakable bond with its fans.

The original lineup of Paul Stanley (vocals and rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals and bass guitar), Ace Frehley (lead guitar and vocals), and Peter Criss (drums, percussion and vocals) is the most successful and identifiable.

With their outlandish makeup and costumes, they took on the personae of comic book-style characters of The Demon, The Starchild, The Spaceman and The Catman.

Their rise to fame is of course well doumented as is their fall from grace during the 80’s and their ‘unmasked’ period.

Due to creative differences, both Criss and Frehley were out of the group by 1982 – which by no small co-incidence also saw the band’s commercial fortunes also wane.

But buoyed by a wave of nostalgia in the 1990s, the band’s original lineup reformed – and the resulting Kiss Alive/Worldwide/Lost Cities/Reunion Tour was the top-grossing act of 1996 and 1997.

The rest (as they say) is history.

I Was Made For Loving You

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From a Joe Ordinary’s point of view, there have been some amazing movies made.

Some bizarre, some remarkable and some which simply fall into the iconic class.

While every decade had them – the 70′s had a proliferation of all genre’s (at least to this Joe Ordinary’s mind anyway).

From Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, to The Exocist, Saturday Night Fever to Grease, Star Wars to Close Encounters, The Godfather to Rocky – but which five make your iconic 70′s film list?

Perhaps Annie Hall did it for you?

All the Presidents Men or American Graffiti?

There’s no right or wrong answers – just what works for you.

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A recent on-line poll of the world’s sexiest female TV stars of the last 40 years turned up some surprising results.

Some of them I agree with, some I find questionable and some, well . . . .

Those who made the list 11- 20 include: 20. Batman’s Julie Newmar. 19. Christina Applegate 18. The Beverly Hillbillies’ Donna Douglas 17. Charlie’s Angel Jaclyn Smith. 16. Jessica Alba 15. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! The Brady Bunch’s Maureen McCormick. 14. The Cosby Show’s Lisa Bonet. 13. The Mod Squad’s Peggy Lipton. 12. Suzanne Somers of Three’s Company fame 11. Dawn Wells from Gilligan’s Island.

Then there’s our Top 10: 10. Tina Louise from Gilligan’s Island. 9. Catherine Bach, from Dukes of Hazzard. 8. Katherine Heigl of Grey’s Anatomy. 7. Barbara Eden from I Dream of Jeanie. 6. Diana Rigg fromThe Avengers. 5. Desperate Housewives’ Eva Longoria. 4. Heather Locklear 3. Wonder Woman – Lynda Carter 2. Charlie’s Angel Farrah Fawcett.

And who was the number 1 choice?

Yep – Pamela Anderson.

So who should’ve been on the list?

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Colour and movement – it’s the whole basis behind our existence really – but brought down to its simpliest form – it has been making millions of kids (and adults) laugh for decades – through that most elegant of genre’s – The Cartoon.

From the most unpretentious of beginnings such as Walt Disney’s “Steamboat Willie” back in 1928 to the world wide phenomenom that is The Simpsons – cartoons have been the staple diet of television and movie watches for almost a century.

Perhaps you have a soft spot for Australia’s own Felix The Cat, or any of the other great feline contingent including Tom and Jerry, Snagglepuss, Mr Jinx (in cohorts with Pixie and Dixie), Sylvester, Lippy The Lion, Hokey Wolf or even Top Cat.

Not to be outdone – there’s your Hucklebury Hounds, your Oggie Doggy and Oggie Daddy, Snoopy, Scooby Doo, Mr Peabody or Underdog.

The menagerie wouldn’t be anywhere near complete without the addition of Bugs Bunny, Yogi Bear, Pepe Le Pu, Fog Horn Leg Horn, Bat Fink, Magilla Gorilla, Mighty Mouse, Atom Ant, Donald Duck or Woody Woodpecker.

Of course then there’s the human delegation.

Dudley Do-Right, Popeye, Homer Simpson, Mr Magoo, Betty Boop, Charlie Brown, Fred Flintstone, Baby Huey.

. . . or the superhumans – Prince Planet, Marine Boy, Superman.

Or how about our robotic friends – Astro Boy, Gigantor, Rosie – the Maid from the Jetsons or any of the Transfomers?

On and on it goes.

For every kid whose ever watched television or been to the movies – there’s a proliferation of characters and toons to recite.

From Shazam to Courgeous Cat, George of the Jungle to ‘Bing Bing Bing’ – Richocet Rabbit – there was something for everyone.

In the words of the famous desk calendar anon: “I Like to Watch”.

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Given the choice of one person – living or dead – who would you choose to ‘hang’ with for 24 hours?

Einstein? Julius Cesear? Shakespeare? Al Gore

Perplexing?

I won’t taint your thinking with my answer – but given how today has started in the Pop Doc’s surgery – I could probably do with 24 hours of ‘hang time’ with my chosen buddy.

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Can you believe it – go home the other night to find the Pop Doctor  clan transfixed by of all things – Felix The Cat – which somehow managed to find its way onto the tube.

Without thinking – Felix’s hypnotic presence was enough to plant me in my seat for the next 10 mins – as I regailed in the classic slapstick comedy which made this cat so originally cool.

It got me to pondering about all those subsequent pretenders to the title of TV’s coolest cat.

From Sylvester to Leonardo Lion, Snagglepuss to Kimba, there’s been more than a few.

So, just who is the world’s coolest cat?

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What was it about the sitcom – Happy Days – that made it sooooo ‘cool’.

Let’s face it – when you look at the sum of its parts, the show had little going for it.

Imagine going to television executives (in an era when Mannix, The Streets of San Francisco, Kojak and Kung Fu were rating their collective scripts off) – with a handful of hotch potch ideas, a single pilot episode (featuring a middle class American family set in the 50’s, a dysfunctional local thug and Japanese diner proprietor) and trying bravely to keep a poker face when looking to sell the concept.

Well – apparently it worked and Milwaukee, Wisconsin was never the same again.

If there were a Sitcom Hall of Fame, “Happy Days” would surely have a cherished spot there.

For 10 years, we followed The Fonz, Richie, Ralph Malph, Potsie and the Cunninghams through an idealised version of American life in the late 50’s and early 60’s.

From some fairly lightweight scripts came some heavyweight ratings – and for the period 1975-1977 – it consistently featured in the Top 10 programs in the US and Australia.

As twee as its formulated characterisations and improvised situational comedy was – audiences loved it.

From The Fonz’s famous ‘Heeeeeyyyy’ to the familiar ‘Sit on It’ catchcry – the program (was at worst) – inoffensive cultural cringe – (at best) – wholesome family humour.

Then it happened . . . .

Having already spawn spinoff’s including Laverne and Shirley as well as Mork and Mindy – the Happy Days lustre began to tarnish.

Having already conceived the modern colloqualism “Nerd” – the program was about to add another (less fortunate – but still enduring term) – ‘Jumping The Shark’.

With ratings falling and producers looking for answers, a plot involving Fonzie performing a water ski jump over a shark in an episode during the show’s fifth season is often cited as the point where the series had passed its peak of quality and popularity.

The phrase ‘jumping the shark’ was later applied to popular culture phenomena in general.

Of course – the series continued – but as cast members gradually drifted the program and spin-offs including Joanie Loves Chachi – became increasingly tragic – the beauty and intent of those early seasons was lost.

If there was ever a case of getting too much of a good thing – unfortunately Happy Days was it.

 Heeeyyyyyyy!

Click Here To View the Opening Sequence to Happy Days

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There’s so many things the Japanese have brought to the world’s cultural table.

Origami, bonsai and duster slippers for cats.

But has there been any more significant gift to the western world than 60’s television animination?

Sure – we had our Charlie Brown’s, our Yogi Bear’s and our Bugs Bunny’s – but could anything really stack up against Gigantor or Astro Boy?

Perhaps the wide-eyed Marine Boy, who (along with his pals in the P1 – Bolton, Piper and father Dr Mariner) was plied with the responsibility of  making the oceans of the world safe – was more your cuppa tea.

Or was Prince Planet – with his enduring pendant of power more your go.

No wait – I bet Space Ace or Kimba – the White Lion proved themselves your animated saviour on more than one rainy afternoon.

For die hard fans, surely The Eighth Man (about an android super-hero) was the definitive black and white – and as for Speed Racer . . .

Ya’ know even my friends in the Land of the Brave, Home of the Free tried to get in on the act – with the addition of Karate into the whole Batfink and Karate deal – but I’m sorry – no cigar – that simply doesn’t count.

Then there’s the whole  Samurai and Phantom Agents TV series – complete with star-knives, Ninja’s and their almost religious mantra – ‘only use a gun as a last resort’ – but that’s another post altogether. 

At the end of the day, when the history of the world is written and passed down on stone tablets from the mount for us all to deliberate – will it be sushi, Toyota’s or duster slippers for cats we truly thank the Japanese for . . .

I think not.

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Nerds!

As much as we probably all admit to being way too cool to ever be considered one – we all have a soft side for them.

But who are your favourite nerds?

While in real life – Bill Gates would probably rank right up there – on the small screen at least I’ve compiled my own list of personal favourites. . . . so without fanfare (and in no particular order) my Top 10 nerds from TV are:

Gilligan (from Gillgans Island)

Milhouse (from The Simpsons)

Fez (from The 70’s Show)

Monk (from Monk)

Pottsie (from Happy Days)

Cliff Claven (from Cheers)

Arnold Horshack (from Welcome Back Kotter)

Gomer Pile (from Gomer Pile USMC)

Brains (from The Thunderbirds)

Hiro (from Heroes)

Would love to hear yours.

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60’s and 70’s television culture – does it get any better?

Let’s face it – cheese sells. How else do you account for season after season of The Munsters – or Lost in Space.

How in today’s currency could you even contemplate running series after series of The Brady Bunch or put up with the escapades of McHales Navy or Hogan’s Heroes?

No – we’re talking classic television with a capital C. From The Addams Family to the Partridge Family – there’s little doubt that we’re smitten with a heady mix of both pop culture and nostalgia. Who could forget (or forgive Sally Field for her exuburence in) Gidget or The Flying Nun.

Will we ever get over such truly memorable television series as My Three Sons, Leave It to Beaver or Pettycoat Junction? And don’t forget the 70’s – CHiP’s with Ponch and John, Happy Days with Richie, Fonzie and the Gang, Laverne and Shirley or that stomping ground of the stars – Welcome Back Kotter, complete with one – John Travolta as Vinnie Barbarino.

Perhaps Julia or Room 222 was more your go or perhaps you’ve a soft spot for young Buffy and Jody or their sibling “Sissy” in the highly inappropriate and politically incorrectly titled – A Family Affair.

Long and short of it is that these days you can go to almost any video store and hire the boxed set of Dukes of Hazard, I Dream of Jeanie or Lost In Space and not feel the worse for taking it home and indulging in a little ME time

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‘The sirens are screaming and the fires are howling

Way down in the valley tonight . . . ‘

Could it be that the unmistakable melodic prose of Jim Steinman mixed with the bombastic style of one Marvin Lee Aday – better known to us all as ‘Meatloaf’ – afforded the world one of the greatest rock albums (commercially at least) that we’re ever likely to see?

Bat Out Of Hell (released in 1977) surely resides in either the mind or collection of every music lover – regardless of genre.

Still selling an estimated 200,000 copies each year, we know there’s at least 40 million fans out there who have willingly parted with their ‘hard-earned’ just so they can recount the delights of what Rolling Stone rated in its Top 500 Albums of all Time.

In fact it’s only one of two albums that have never actually exited the top 200 in the UK charts.

Facts aside – the album cover alone is a frame-able piece of pop art –
while culturally it is probably best remembered for the rock operetta “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.”

Without doubt the most thesponian and spectacularly dynamic piece on the album, it features wailing vocals extravagances and what reviewer Steve Gdula penned as being a “testosterone-crazed tenor in an incremental game of sexual bargaining with the resistant, but willing, Ellen Foley.

“By employing exaggerated power chords, screaming vocals, over-the-top arrangements, and a sense of rock & roll as Broadway theater, Bat made Meat Loaf a star. “

One thing is certain – Bat Out Of Hell provided an Everest for both Steinman and ‘Meat’ – a summit that they’ve never quite managed to reach since.

Collectively though – we – their musical Sherpa’s will continue to delight in the achievement.

I think somebody somewhere must be tolling a bell . . .

Click here to listen to Bat Out of Hell

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“Rock ‘n roll’s been going downhill ever since Buddy Holly died.”

Hardly the definitive piece of historic movie dialogue but  . . .  salient in it’s context none-the-less.

. . . Happy Days, Grease, Sha-na-na, Laverne and Shirley, Back to The Future Part 1 . . .  there’s little doubt that for the latter part of the 70’s, we were collectively captivated with the romance of the 1950’s.

Strangely enough though – it was a movie set in the 60’s which is uniformly acknowledged as the catalyst for the fervour which swept up most of English speaking world.

Click Here to Watch Trailer

American Graffiti – starring a young Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips, Suzanne Sommers Harrison Ford, Joe Spano and Charles Martin Smith – to name just a few – recreated the feel, landscape, and sounds of early 60s, in small-town America – an historical time period (of JFK’s Presidency and the New Frontier before the jarring assassination of late 1963).

Advertising posters and theatrical trailers for the film asked: “Where were you in ’62? . . . yet strangely enough the film (by Star Wars director – George Lucas – is credited with birthing the 50’s TV and film phenonomen.

Admittedly there were over 300 pre-1962 cars used in the 1973 film and the soundtrack featured an absolute fistful of songs harking back to the likes of Bill Haley and Comets with Rock Around the Clock, Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry and the Buddy Holly classic – That’ll be The Day.

But perhaps a less tangible (but very real) reason behind the film’s success (which was produced in just 28 days) is the measurable feel for a seemingly more innocent time – when cool music, hot cars, tough guys and cute chicks were the order of the day.

Of course this wasn’t lost on film and television producers either – and with the 60’s a little too reviled (and recent) in people’s minds – then the 50’s backdrop proved the perfect formula.

And so the era was re-birthed – Hollywood style.

It goes without saying that many of the film’s stars went on to receiving regular pay cheques, appearing in hit TV sitcoms such as Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, One Day at a Time, Three’s Company and Hill Street Blues.

And although the film was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing, it came away empty-handed.

In the words of Fats Domino – Ain’t That A Shame.

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They say that music matters most when you’re a teenager.

Apparently (as reported in an article appearing the in the SMH back in 2004) it is a ‘social lubricant and signifier in your 20s and represents the person you remember you were (and wish you were still) when you’re in your 30s and 40s’.

“Along the way you go from searching out the thrill of the new to pondering the strangeness of the new to dismissing the inadequacies of the new.

“If you believe there hasn’t been a great band since (insert your preferred period here) ask yourself: do I really want to hear new music? Do you read about new bands, new songwriters? Do you want to be challenged to think differently or do your prefer to have your tastes confirmed?

“The chances are if you’re already past your mid-20s you did (or should, if you’re being honest) answer no to those questions. Just like every generation you are stuck in the music of your youth and young adulthood.

“And there’s nothing wrong with that. Who says you have to like or care about any new music, whether it’s new to you in 1967, 1977 or 2007?”

That said – there are song’s that live in everyone’s mind – songs – as so eloquently penned by ELO in the mid 70′s – that you simply can’t get out of your head.

So at the risk of having those very tunes resonate throughout the day – what’s yours?

Click Here to listen to ELO and Cant Get It Out of My Head

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Remember the Huxtables  from The Cosby show – and how cool they were?

Or how about the Brady’s?

Perhaps The Taylors from Home Improvement or better still maybe The Cunningham’s from Happy Days.

Just about all of us had a favourite TV Family – that we longed to be a part of – for whatever reason.

Ok, so may some weren’t quite up the scatch but even the weirder one scuh as The Beverly Hillbillies, The Munsters or The Addams Family had some redeeming qualities.

Maybe Al and Peg Bundy cracked your top five or Charles and Laura Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie. Perhaps we have to go even further back to the Cleavers or dare I say it – The Waltons?

Of course we can’t discount Homer and Marge’s impact on our lives let alone other classic cartoon families such as The Flintstones or The Jetsons.

So folks – it’s family’s a ten paces . . . choose yours wisely . . .

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If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?

Would is be one of the pretty boys like Pitt or a glamour like Lauren Bacall?

Would Humphrey Bogart get your nod of approval or would Drew Barrymore be your first choice?

Perhaps you’re more the Charles Bronson type – or maybe Ingrid Bergman?

From where I sit – the jury is still out – though Harrison Ford does have a huge amount of appeal.

Would love to hear who you’d have in mind.

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Damn – that’s a tough one!

Conversation turned to this at a party held in the confines of the Doctor’s palatial residence recently – and the jury was still out 2 hours after the topic was raised.

Jimmy Hendrix vs Elton John, The Beatles v the Bee Gees, the Moon Landing vs Star Wars – the lists were endless – or seemingly at least.

The 70’s was afterall a time when Grease was the Word that We Heard, and The Jackson 5 taught us that learning the ABC was as easy as 1-2-3 and flares were either something you wore . . . a distress signal . . . or both.

It was a time when The Fonz was cool, the girls from ABBA were hot and protest marches were on the boil.

We had mood rings and sea monkeys, platforms and pet rocks, safari suits and slinkies Rubiks Cube and Rod Stewart.

We had Rocky, the Brady Bunch and CHiPs and a Million Dollar Man.

We saw Travolta dazzle and Nixon frazzle and we paid homage to a raft of new Hollywood Queens – yet publicity mourned the loss of the one and only King.

So welcome to the 70’s – where Stayin’ Alive was a credo – not a survival technique.

Of course the 60 saw indiginous Australians win the vote – and Americans lose a president.

 . . . when a band of 4 cheeky Monkees were telling us they were Believers

. . . and 4 foreign Beatles were wanting to Hold our Hand

Where Woodstock and the Flintstones both rocked

. . .  and hippies were simply chose to get stoned.

It was time when knee-high boots and Mini Skirts were in – and Vietnam resulted in our troops being shipped out, where The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady waxed lyrical and the Beach Boys waxed surfboards.

It was an era of hope and the Age of Aquarius . . .

So which was cooler?

I’m still getting splinters from sitting on the fence.

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From time to time – as you do – I dragged out a copy of the old Happy Days TV series the other day – complete with Richie, The Fonz, Ralph Malph, Potsie and the gang – just to lighten the mood around the palatial Pop Doctor estate.

The sugary sweet, ‘twee’ nature of the whole series had almost been lost on me when one of my kids (who was watching the episodes for the first time) and referring to the quaint timber facade of the Cummingham residence quipped:

“Wouldn’t it be sooooo cool to live in their house.”

Well – come to think of it – I guess (given we only ever saw the lounge, kitchen and two bedrooms) that perhaps it might just be cool to take up digs with Marion and Howard – heyyyyyyyy!

So if you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be?

Perhaps The Addams Family or The Brady Bunch environs were more to your taste – or The Munsters offered your kind of real estate. Perhaps life with a bunch of Desperate Housewives is more your cuppa tea or a weekend with Mr Rourke and Tattoo on Fantasy Island?

Love to hear from you.

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What is it about 70’s music that evokes seemingly mature men to spontaneously adopt a Fender air guitar stance amidst normally civil (yet like-minded) individuals – and women to shun their inhabitations and regail in either the Nut-Bush or encouraging their girlfriends to join them on the dance floor – simply because “I love this song”?

One hit wonders including the likes of Patrick Hernandez or The Knack have a lot to answer for while groups such as the Bee Gees and their almost spirtual Saturday Night Fever album are just the tip of the whole disco iceberg.

Yes – Donna Summer, Roger Voudouris – the list goes on – and so does their music – no matter how good or bad their puritan talent may have been – you’ve gotta love an era where tie-dye was a fashion statement, where you could not only play vinyl but could wear it, where being a fan of big hair, big heels and big jewellery meant you were a big player.

But it was the ‘big acts’ – such as ACDC, Kiss and later Van Halen which led the Air Guitar renaissance – initiated by Chuck Berry and his legendary moves (so visually recreated in both Back to the Future I and II) with Johnny B. Goode.

There’s no doubt about it – the 70’s afforded us so much – yet the air guitar with its wailing six string riffs and hypnotic chord changes is a legacy which has defied the ages.

Go on – admit it – we’ve all done it before (either in the privacy of your own company) or on the dance floor – no doubt to the adulation of those adoring fans around you.

Why, there’s even a US Air Guitar Championship – with auditions in no less than 14 States including Boston, LA, Washington and New York – where those handy with an invisble “Axe” via for $1000 in prize money and a trip to Finland to take part in the World Air Guitar titles.

Yes – disciples unite.

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